{"id":2190920,"url":"https://alion.io/job/thorlabs-photonics-support-engineer-i-2","title":"Photonics Support Engineer I","company":{"id":6560,"name":"Thorlabs","domain":"thorlabs.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/thorlabs","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workable","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":82,"open_postings":17,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.706,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":33,"computed_at":"2026-10-12T06:55:09Z"}},"role":"Support","role_family":"Support","seniority":"junior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Lafayette, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":44000,"max_usd":88000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":404},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-09T17:56:46Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-09","last_verified_at":"2026-10-12T14:17:24Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":2,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":2},"description":"At Thorlabs, we design and manufacture components, instruments, and systems that transform the world by identifying, enabling, and accelerating key photonics (i.e., light-based) technologies. Backed by a dedicated workforce of more than 3,000 employees worldwide, Thorlabs contributes to cutting-edge research and real-world innovation.\nWhether you're early in your career or bringing years of experience, you’ll find opportunities to grow, take ownership, and make meaningful contributions from day one. We know every employee brings unique talents and perspectives that fuel our success, and we seek driven individuals who are excited to make an impact in a fun, fast-moving culture.\nThe Photonics Support Engineer I is responsible for providing entry level technical support by solving problems, troubleshooting, and working with customers to guide them to the best possible product solutions for their applications and experiments. The position works with several other Photonics Support and Design Engineers to support optics, lasers and light sources, fiber, opto-mechanics, motion control, microscope and other imaging systems, telecom instruments and more. Between onsite lab opportunities, customer interactions, tradeshows and Thorlabs manufacturing entities visits, the position can be exposed to every facet of the photonics industry.\nAlthough the location of the position is in Lafayette, CO, from time to time it may be required to undertake duties at other Thorlabs locations.\nProvide technical support via phone, web chat & e-mail to customers worldwide.\nInterface with multiple support teams around the world to implement best practices globally.\nReproduce setups and create technical solutions in the lab.\nDemonstrate knowledge and problem-solving abilities in providing technical support to customers who purchase from our extensive product portfolio.\nDevelop and provide customized solutions, assist in the design of custom products.\nSupport Marketing and Sales activities by attending Tradeshows and Customer visits.\nParticipate in managing the development of Thorlabs products by being part of an interactive development forum.\nDevelop Marketing Materials like test data, white papers, or video for use on our website or through another distribution channel\nDevelop skill in the use of test equipment to help influence the design of next generation photonics products.\nContribute to training of new team members by sharing your unique skills.\nMust be a US citizen/person to work on ITAR products.\nRequirements\nExperience:\nEntry level to 3 years of Photonics product and applications support experience. Will accept recent college graduate with bachelor’s degree. Lab experience with optics, mechanics, lasers, and electrical components a plus.\nEducation:\nBSc, MSc or PhD degree in Optics, Physics or a related Engineering field or equivalent work experience.\nSpecialized Knowledge and Skills:\nKnowledge of Photonics and Laser Technology via work or laboratory experience.\nStrong communication proficiency and presentation skills.\nAbility to multitask, show attention to details, and to solve multidisciplinary problems under time constraints.\nAbility to develop and communicate dept. goals in support of Thorlabs' mission and responds to all interactions in a positive manner.\nEagerness to learn about new technologies, process, and business models.\nWork schedule may be staggered times to cover our 8am-8pm hours of operation.\nOpportunities to travel to tradeshows, other Thorlabs manufacturing facilities (foreign and domestic), and training events on and off site.\nThe estimated pay range for this role is $ 63,000 - $ 72,000 annually\nThorlabs values its diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identify or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age or veteran status. Job descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts. The organization maintains its status as an at-will employer. Employees can be terminated for any reason not prohibited by law.\nBenefits\n Thorlabs offers a complete benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance, company paid life insurance, a generous PTO package, a 401(k) plan, and tuition reimbursement just to name a few.","description_format":"text","description_chars":4434,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Life insurance","Vision insurance"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Optical Communications","Lasers & Laser Systems","Test & Measurement Instruments","Optics & Photonic Components"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-09T17:56:46Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"H-1B filings in 12 months: 6","filings_12m":6,"filings_prev_12m":8,"green_card_filings_12m":0,"median_offered_wage_usd":82500,"route":null,"cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-10-03T21:08:04+00:00","sources":["US Department of Labor: LCA disclosure data (H-1B, H-1B1, E-3)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":63,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.632,"p_room":1,"age_days":2,"expected_fill_days":33,"reasons":["conf:3","stale_co","velocity","win:early","comp:junior"],"computed_at":"2026-10-12T06:55:09Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/thorlabs-photonics-support-engineer-i-2","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/thorlabs-photonics-support-engineer-i-2.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-12T14:53:48Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":23510,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-13T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":6560},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=6560"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fthorlabs-photonics-support-engineer-i-2"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fthorlabs-photonics-support-engineer-i-2"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fthorlabs-photonics-support-engineer-i-2"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/thorlabs-photonics-support-engineer-i-2\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fthorlabs-photonics-support-engineer-i-2"}]}